Improvement in fire-extinguishers for car-stoves



J'. M. VAN DYKE. FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS FOR CAR-STOV'ES.

No. 191.495. Patented May 29,1877;

N l N A E I. z F f MU" l I N. FETEBS. FHOT HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 04UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN VAN DYKE, OF MASON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS FOR CAR-STOVES.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. l9l,495, dated May 2application filed March 31, 1877.

To all whom it may concm:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. VAN DYKE, of Mason, Warren county, Ohio,have invented a new and useful Device for Extinguishing Fires inRailroad and Steamboat Stoves, of which the following is aspecification:

My invention relates to an improved form of those devices whereby, inthe event of a collision or break down, water, in sufficient quantityfor quenching purposes, is automatically conveyed to the fire-chamber ofa stove employed upon a car or steamboat, or other public vehicle.

My invention, in its preferred form, comprises two similar water-tanks,secured upon opposite sides of the stove, and of which each tankcommuncates with the sto e's fire-chamber through a pipe a valve which,in the normal condition of the apparatns, closes said pipe; a ring orannular bracket located within the tank higher than said valve, whichring supports an iron ball, which, being connected through the ring toan arm that projects from the said valve, operates, when said ball isprecipitated from its said bracket by the overturn or a suddeu jar ofthe vehicle, to open the said valve and admit water to the interior ofthe stove.

The accompanying drawing represents a stove provided with myfire-extinguishing apparatus, the latter being shown in verticalsection.

A may represent any stove such as are employed in railroad-cars,steamboats, and other public vehicles.

B and B' represent two precisely similar tanks or reservoirs forcontaining water. Each reservoir is firmly bolted or otherwise securedto the car, as at G, and each is furnished with the following parts ormembers, to wit:

An orifice,D, at top, closed by a cap or cover, E a pipe, F, whichextends from the iuterior of the tank to that of the stove acheck-valve, G, which prevents any passage of smoke or heated materialsfrom the stove into the tank; a cock, H, to discharge water from thetank a valve, I, which, in the normal condition of the apparatus, closesthe entrance of the pipe F; a ring or annular bracket,N, which,extending horizontally from the inner wall of the tank some distanceabove the valve I, supports a ball, J, of cast-iron or other heavymaterial. This ball is connected by chain or wire cord K with arm L,that extends horizontally from the valve I. Finally, I provide a spring,M, to prevent leakage, arising from ordinary agitation of the car.

The operation of my apparatusis as follows: It will be the duty of theconductor or other person in charge to maintain the tanks full of water,the same being introduced through the orifices D, and so long as nodangerous disturbance of the car occurs no further attention isnecessary; but any disturbauce of the car sufficient to eject the ball Jfrom its annular bracket N, the ball falling outside of the bracket,operates through chain K to drag open the valve 1, and thus permit waterto flow from the tank into the stove, and put out the fire.

There being two tanks provided, each of them higher than. the stove andon opposite sides of it, water will flow into the latter in quantityequal to one tankfull, in whatever direction or to whatever extent thedisturbance may take place.

The situation of the bracket N is such as to preclude the possibility ofsuch self-replaceneut of the ball as would permit a reclosure of thevalve I.

The device hereinabove specified is believed to comprise severalimportant desiderata not combined in any existing apparatus of the kind.For example: The water-tanks, being wholly distinct from the stoveproper, may be used with any form of the latter without liability ofrendering it top-heavy, or of becoming useless at the important junctureby its separation therefrom, and can, without inconvenience, be made ofadequate capacity for the purpose intended. In case of a completecapsize of the car, or nearly so, my tanks are equally effective.Instead ot' adding to the instability of the stove, they are capable ofserving as bulwarks against its disturbance or overthrow. My tanks,being made broad and flat, may serve in the place of the screens whichare not unfrequently interposed between the stove and the furniture ot arailroad-car. My safety apparatus, being wholly interior, and out ofsight and reach, is, of course, not liable to be tampered with bymischievous or ill-disposed persons. The hall, Operating through themedium of a lever,is not required to be as heavy as would otherwise benecessary.

1 claim as new and of' my invention- 1. The conhination, with a car orsteamboat store. of a pair of tanks, B B'. higher than, and on oppositesides of, the stove, with which they communicate by passages F, closedby valves I, having' a chai or other flexihle connection, K. with a hallor heavy mass, J, supported in annulnr bracket N, from which said massis readily displaeed by any violent disturbance, substntially as setforth.

2. The eombination of elevated annular bracket N and ball J, connectedby chain or cord K with an arm, L, extending from a valve,

I, that closes the passage F from tank B into a car or steamboat stove,substantiall y as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In eombination with valve I, closing the passage F into arailway-stove. the spring M, as and for the object designated.

4. The described combination of valves G and I with passage F andautomatic releasing neehanism N J K L, f'or the objects set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN M. VAN DYKE.

Attest:

WALTEB KNIG-HT, L. H. BOND.

